SKELTON WILLIAMS MOVED TO BOLTON.

J · Post by J » 19 May 2005, 07:50

Amir Khan has been handed a hometown fight for his professional debut this summer thanks to a switch of venues.

Promoter allegedly today announced that he has changed the venue for Khan's first paid appearance on Saturday, July 7 from London's ExCel Centre to the 7,000-capacity Bolton Arena.

The 18-year-old Olympic silver medallist will appear on the undercard of Matt Skelton's British heavyweight title defence against Danny Williams which has also been moved north.

Warren said: "Amir had his last amateur fight against Mario Kindelan in Bolton at the nearby Reebok Stadium so it's fitting that he should have his first professional fight in his hometown.

"We expect to be going back to Bolton, where he has a fantastic following, for a lot of fights in the future."

Khan, who avenged his Athens 2004 lightweight final defeat by overcoming Kindelan last Saturday, said: "It will be great to have my first pro fight in front of my own supporters."

Warren is hoping to announce the name of Khan's debut opponent next week and added: "It will be a British fighter

Chopping Right · Post by **Chopping Right** » 19 May 2005, 08:10

Is Danny Williams still fighting on the Hatton undercard now? Seems a bit risky.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 19 May 2005, 08:14

Williams v Skelton is a better ticket seller than Khan's debut surely? He should keep it in London and put on a smaller show up there with Khan on.

Coconut · Post by **Coconut** » 19 May 2005, 08:26

Audley headlined his pro debut as well...

Keep him on the undercard I say.

I think this detracts from Skelton - Williams which is arguably the best British heavyweight macth-up since Lewis - Bruno

J · Post by J » 19 May 2005, 08:27

oive got the hump i would have goen to williams skelton but not with it being on in Bolton.

Coconut · Post by **Coconut** » 19 May 2005, 08:30

Imagine having to trek up to Greater Manchester just for a big boxing match. Tchoh!

J · Post by J » 19 May 2005, 08:33

Coconut wrote:Imagine having to trek up to Greater Manchester just for a big boxing match. Tchoh!

all due respect williams v skelton isnt quite in the class of Hatton V Zoo and i wouldnt be able to get my mates to go that far anyway for that match.

so if you are going on your own yes it is a long way.

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 19 May 2005, 09:18

Great news, just up the road, I might go!

ILikeBeer · Post by **ILikeBeer** » 19 May 2005, 10:07

Hot damn, I was going to go to London to see this event as well.

JimStone · Post by **JimStone** » 19 May 2005, 10:18

nickd wrote:Williams v Skelton is a better ticket seller than Khan's debut surely?

You'd have thought so, but that's not the case. Khan is, and will be, a huge ticket seller. Like I said shortly after the olympics, the Asian community up here will buy tickets to watch Khan like you'd not believe.

Neri · Post by **Neri** » 19 May 2005, 10:25

Warren knows it will make more money up in bolton thanks to amir khans name

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 19 May 2005, 11:09

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/4548149.stm

Warren also stressed that Khan would be developed in the "Warren Way".

"He's not going to be rushed. I will guide him the right way and we'll make the right moves at the right time, as was done with Nigel Benn, Naseem Hamed and Ricky Hatton," said the Sports Network chief.

What the hells the Warren way?

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 19 May 2005, 11:33

he almost sounds proud of it.

Smit · Post by **Smit** » 19 May 2005, 11:38

the Warren way... the way you can fight nobodies for 30 or so fights and fight for 'geniune' WBU world titles

oh and if you're lucky then could possibly mean a WBO title shot.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 19 May 2005, 11:43

Nigel Benn won a proper title though.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 19 May 2005, 11:55

Makes sense - after 5 or 6 amateur fights on terrestrial tv, Khan is a bigger name with the general public than either Williams or Skelton.

Just shows the power of terrestrial. No wonder Frank is fluttering his eyelids at ITV lately.

I just hope we don't end up with an endless series of televised mismatches - Bruno style.
Hopefully not, as with the right matches I don't think he needs too much protecting.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 20 May 2005, 04:01

Smit wrote: the Warren way... the way you can fight nobodies for 30 or so fights and fight for 'geniune' WBU world titles oh and if you're lucky then could possibly mean a WBO title shot.

If Khan is good enough, he'll be fighting the top guys sooner rather than later. If he's not, he won't.

Smit · Post by **Smit** » 20 May 2005, 08:32

Kilburn wrote: If Khan is good enough, he'll be fighting the top guys sooner rather than later. If he's not, he won't.

So Calzaghe and Hatton aren't good enough

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 20 May 2005, 08:40

Calzaghe is, and he's universally recognised as world number 1.

Hatton however is not good enough, that's why he has been WBU champ all this time and only taken part in one contest that you could start to call 50-50.

Make no mistake - I know that if Khan needs protecting, Warren will protect him just like he has Hatton.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 20 May 2005, 14:14

Kilburn wrote:Calzaghe is, and he's universally recognised as world number 1.

Hatton however is not good enough, that's why he has been WBU champ all this time and only taken part in one contest that you could start to call 50-50.

Make no mistake - I know that if Khan needs protecting, Warren will protect him just like he has Hatton.

Calzaghe is only #1 as the division is so shocking. If Lacy beats Reid impressively I think he could potentially leapfrog him.

Veit
McIntyre
Brewer
Jimenez
Pudwill
Mitchell
Mkrtchian
Salem
Veit

Case closed your honour.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 20 May 2005, 16:55

Talk about missing the point.

Whether or not Calzaghe would have been a protected WBU champ were his division stronger is not the issue.

If Khan is the genuine dogs bollocks in a tough division he will NOT go down the Ricky Hatton route. Ricky is a long reigning WBU champion for a reason - he'd more than likely get badly walloped by any of the top 5 guys out there.

We don't know how good Khan will be yet. Get it now?

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 20 May 2005, 18:05

Kilburn wrote:Talk about missing the point.

Whether or not Calzaghe would have been a protected WBU champ were his division stronger is not the issue.

If Khan is the genuine dogs bollocks in a tough division he will NOT go down the Ricky Hatton route. Ricky is a long reigning WBU champion for a reason - he'd more than likely get badly walloped by any of the top 5 guys out there.

We don't know how good Khan will be yet. Get it now?

Not missing any point at all, I was simply commenting on Sicknote's status as number 1 in the division. I'll start another thread next time shall I?